Wobble, Wobble
Have you ever looked at an infant just learning how to walk? The child first attempts to stand, wobbles a bit before becoming steady, and then wobbles again while attempting steps before falling. With that said, children are very determined little beings because they don’t let that stop them. Instead, they get back up and start the process all over again, wobble and all!
New teachers (and sometimes the seasoned teachers), very much, are like these infants. They’ll attempt a new lesson, or utilize a new method, at which point these teachers will find themselves wobbling. Will this work? Do I have enough materials? Did I properly prep? Will the students buy in to what I’m doing? What happens if this doesn’t go according to plan? It may take a few years before that wobble subsides and the walking truly can begin. However, the most effective teachers are not afraid to wobble a bit, especially when considering the impact trying something new has on lessons that are considered to be tried and true.
Being a second year teacher, I constantly ask myself if my lessons will work. I constantly question if my students will buy into what I present. Working with high schoolers that are on the spectrum makes this that much more difficult because I also need to take into consideration the modifications and the accommodations that come with the territory of working with my students. One of the many benefits of working with my kiddos, though, is that they are not afraid to tell me their true feelings about my lessons and my activities. They’ll tell me straight out if they do or do not like what we do, while also providing suggestions for what they would like to do. I am so fortunate to have this brutal honesty, as I really do take what they tell me and attempt to transform the lesson for the following week to help them that much more. Even then, I cannot help but question myself. Will they like what we do? What will I have to change? Am I doing enough? Am I making any semblance of an impact???
Alas, the wobble continues for this “newbie” teacher, but I’m not afraid to wobble. I welcome the doubts and the ideas and questions with open arms. If nothing else, this all will help me become a better and stronger educator!
Always,
Ms. J
